Tempting Ad's... Do they belong?

Options
170isreal
170isreal Posts: 151 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Has any one else noticed an over abundance of "bad for you" foods being advertised on MFP? In the past two days I have seen McDonalds & Dominos Pizza. I understand this is a free site but should the creaters gain revenue from companies that have no place on a fitness site? Thoughts please!!!
«1

Replies

  • 170isreal
    170isreal Posts: 151 Member
    Options
    :noway: And I totally just saw a Pizza Hut... OMG
  • sarabeth120
    sarabeth120 Posts: 172 Member
    Options
    I don't think the site has any control with what kind of ads show up on here.

    But, I use firefox and have the adblock plus add on, so all ads on here are blocked.

    If you have firefox, I suggest you download the ad-on so you'll no longer see the ads. :)
  • jenlb99
    jenlb99 Posts: 213 Member
    Options
    I don't see any ads -- get an ad blocker!

    And nope, they definitely don't belong on here!
  • orange_you_glad
    orange_you_glad Posts: 38 Member
    Options
    I doubt that MFP can control the ad content. They've made an arrangement with Google to provide ads on these pages -- that's how we get to use MFP for free.

    Most ads now have some kind of targeting associated with them, so that if you're talking about diets or food, for example, you might see ads for diets or foods. (Or, if you're looking at expensive shoes on Nordstrom.com, you see ads for those shoes on other sites.) So, given the content of this site, it's actually not surprising that we see ads for pizza or other fast food. It's how it goes.

    If you don't want to see ads when you use MFP, install Firefox, and then get the ad blocker plug-in. You can then block ads from specific providers (such as google) on any website you go to.
  • PositivelyFlawed
    PositivelyFlawed Posts: 316 Member
    Options
    I hadn't even noticed and I spend way more time than I need to on MFP. lol

    I would be a conflict if MFP charged for membership, but since they do not, they are free to gain whatever advertisement they can get.

    Sadly we WERE or ARE the target audience for those types of foods.
  • nicehormones
    nicehormones Posts: 503 Member
    Options
    My ads are all for cricket wireless. Like all of them.
  • valerietoxii
    valerietoxii Posts: 93 Member
    Options
    Yup. There is a Schwan's add staring back at me now. How rude. That cheesy chicken with lime and tortilla strips almost looks good. Its like having a krispy kreme shop next to the gym.
  • chuckles217
    chuckles217 Posts: 123 Member
    Options
    I believe the ads are done by Google Sense. Google Sense uses the websites themes + any history they have on you to "target" products towards you. Easiest way to resolve is to get a browser where you can get AdBlock such as firefox.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Options
    From what I understand, MFP has nothing to do with the displayed ads. It is based on your browsing history. I have never seen any food ads on mine, but I do often see Carnival ads. I did a lot of searches for my upcoming trip.
  • juliekaiser1988
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    Options
    I usually do the mobile app so I don't see it. But been checking more online and currently there's an LG ad I'm looking at. No foods yet. Yikes.
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    Options
    From what I understand, MFP has nothing to do with the displayed ads. It is based on your browsing history. I have never seen any food ads on mine, but I do often see Carnival ads. I did a lot of searches for my upcoming trip.

    I had wondered about that, myself. It seemed like many times after I'd been searching for something or shopping at a particular site, those ads would pop up. Then, again, other times (like right now), the ads seem totally unrelated to anything I've ever done. I admit, though, I think some of them are in "poor taste" for this type of web site. "Foods to never eat… blah blah" and it's a banana?!
  • juliekaiser1988
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    Options
    Ok, now it's a Botox ad. Maybe this computer is trying to tell me something...

    and an ad for Sundown Naturals Gluten Free Vitamins.
  • nicehormones
    nicehormones Posts: 503 Member
    Options
    From what I understand, MFP has nothing to do with the displayed ads. It is based on your browsing history. I have never seen any food ads on mine, but I do often see Carnival ads. I did a lot of searches for my upcoming trip.


    This makes sense. I have cricket and recently did a lot of phone browsing and I pay my bill online... I get a lot of car ones too though even though I don't own a car, nor have I looked for one.
  • spottedlee
    spottedlee Posts: 372
    Options
    Yeah,, cinabon,, I was thinking,, HUH?
  • bubblywine
    bubblywine Posts: 28 Member
    Options
    I have noticed and have been completely annoyed. The foods advertised are things I never buy, so I don't know why I'm targeted except that I'm on MFP. And that dopey ad about what not to eat and 5 simple rules? There's a special place in hell.....
  • spottedlee
    spottedlee Posts: 372
    Options
    I have noticed and have been completely annoyed. The foods advertised are things I never buy, so I don't know why I'm targeted except that I'm on MFP. And that dopey ad about what not to eat and 5 simple rules? There's a special place in hell.....
    key word,, let say,, you were curious about calories of special K,, you googled that,, BAM,, you get special K cereal ads.
  • IvoryParchment
    IvoryParchment Posts: 651 Member
    Options
    I've got NoScript for safety, so I only see ads that don't use javascript. MFP doesn't seem to run too many of those. I allow javascript for MFP, but not for every random third-party that might show up on the page.

    I don't have any objection to them making money from ads, but if they insist on using animated ads with third party scripts, they will lose out on the business of safety-conscious internet users.
  • aya619
    aya619 Posts: 27 Member
    Options
    yup, just had IHOP waffles pop up while I was reading these posts!
  • bubblywine
    bubblywine Posts: 28 Member
    Options
    I have noticed and have been completely annoyed. The foods advertised are things I never buy, so I don't know why I'm targeted except that I'm on MFP. And that dopey ad about what not to eat and 5 simple rules? There's a special place in hell.....
    key word,, let say,, you were curious about calories of special K,, you googled that,, BAM,, you get special K cereal ads.

    Except I never do any of that. Why am I getting cinnabun, burgers, etc? Oh, and cruises. I think they are targeting PROFILE information, and making their evil educated guesses on what a person of my sex, age, and location might like? EVIL.
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 826 Member
    Options
    They're mostly just Google ads. Websites do cost money to maintain, and keeping it updated and current actually does require hours on the part of the website owner. If you want free membership and free use of all the tools on here, the ads are going to be a given. If you REALLY want to support MFP, click on a few of those ads while you're here so that MFP will get some $$$.

Categories